“Good morning Teacher Dance,” they all said in Unison. Each and every morning, small bodies in bright pink shirts, and black pants or skirts, stood to greet me in this way before teaching. I had to admit, I was taken aback the first couple of times it happened. But over time, it grew on me. In Zambia, I had the chance to teach 7th graders. I came into this month thinking I was just going to assist the teachers, not be one. I did have prior experience teaching 5th grade education, and tutored Psychology, history, and English in college. Never in a million years would I ever desire or expect to be a teacher in any way. As the main teacher gave me this book, he said “you, look through here and find them something you can teach.” I litetally had 15 minutes to prepare a lesson in Science to teach these kiddos. “How the heck am I supposed to do this”? I thought, as I was scanning over the different topics in this book. Fortunately, things worked out and it went really well, and I actually enjoyed it.
Out of the entire race thus far, I believe, this will be one of the experiences I remember the most, primarily because of how different it was. Everyday, we would head off to the school around 8:30am. Once we arrived, the students would already be copying down the things for them to do written on the board. After that, we would sing and dance, someone would teach math, then I would teach science, then we would have a 30 min break. After that I would be asked to teach english and some sort of creative technology topic. By that time, I would leave to go back to our home we were staying at for the month. During my time teaching, I had this major shift in my heart towards education and the kids I was blessed to come to know. But before I get to that, I wanted to tell you guys that education in America is such a gift and privilege. Not all are able to receive an education, and even if you are fortunate enough to go, there is a very limited amount of resources offered to receive everything needed for a proper education. But even though there may be lack in resources, they make up for it in willing, bright, and eager students desiring to learn and apply what they learn.
How much of a gift it is, to have been able to receive knowledge or education about anything, and be able to give that away to students hungry for it, and are not able to have all of the resources necessary to obtain it. The relationships I was able to build with these students will forever sit in my heart. Looking back at it now, I miss getting up early to see their smiling faces. I miss being able to impart what was given to me to them. It is even wierd, not lesson planning. But even more so, I miss the laughs that we shared. The dances I taught them. I miss the hugs and Hi-fives. I miss hearing about their dreams and desires. I miss feeling like I wanted to do more to help them in anyway, rather that be find ways to raise money for a school building, or raise money so every student can have a text book, so they do not have to copy it down word for word from a chalk board. I also miss my own schooling and education and all that I was learning. I even miss the late night study sessions and the long drawn out tests haha.
I have always valued education, but not for the right reasons. It was always as a means to prove myself or that I was good at something…… Because then, maybe I would truly belong because I would have something worthy to offer, that people would want to receive from me and find me of some sort of value. This was why I worked so hard to be the perfect student and get the best grades I could (well that and because I was told to). If i was smart enough and knew all of the information about anything I could be successful and valuable to people, at least that was the thought anyways.
Since being on the race, I have truly seen the value it holds, because life is literally education and a constant journey of learning. We need education to know how to live and love and serve others and even take care of ourselves. It is not primarily about how much you know, or even if people will find you valuable. Rather it is transformative, and has the ability to create change and impact for something bigger than ourselves.
Even our relationship with the Lord deals with education as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus and we teach others to obey him out of love.
Here is to more of life and the constant learning that it brings.
Thank you
Sincerely
Your Teacher,
Dyl
